Mitama187

1. Milk for Skin Lightening

Milk is a rich source of calcium. Calcium, along with many important functions in our body, also regulates normal skin color. It does so by stimulating melanocytes, the skin cells that produces melanin pigment. Also, when you provide higher calcium content to the upper epidermis of your skin, you help maintain effective barrier against moisture loss. This prevents skin from going dry which can also affect your skin making it darker. Milk also contains lactic acid which reduces skin’s pigmentation making your skin lighter in complexion.

How to use milk for skin lightening?

Get this:

Milk (preferably cow’s or goat’s milk)- 1 bowl

Washcloth

Do this:

Take the bowl of milk and warm it a little. You need just warm milk and not hot.

Soak your washcloth in this.

Take out the washcloth and wring it out to discard excessive milk. While the cloth should be fully soaked in milk, it should not drip.

Now gently rub your skin with this cloth.

Once the cloth gets dry, soak it again in the milk and repeat the process.

Repeat the cycle of dipping and rubbing for 3-4 times.

Do this daily, preferably after taking bath.

After a couple of weeks, you may do this twice a week instead of doing it daily.

2. Yogurt for Skin Lightening

Lactic acid is a known remedy for natural skin lightening. This acid is the most gentle alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). Alpha hydroxy acids act as exfoliants by contributing in rapid shedding of dead skin cells on the surface. This leads to cell renewal which in turn removes dullness from your skin giving you a brightening effect. As a skin lightening agent, lactic acid helps bleach the hyperpigmented skin by suppressing the production of melanin. Therefore, using yogurt loaded with lactic acid, makes sense when it comes to skin lightening with natural remedies.

Ways to use yogurt for skin lightening

Take some plain, unflavored and unsweetened, yogurt. Rub this gently on to your skin for a couple of minutes. Then leave the yogurt on your skin for another few minutes. Now wash off using lukewarm water. Repeat this daily.

Mix yogurt, lemon juice and oatmeal to get make a face mask. Apply this to your skin. Leave it there for 15-20 minutes before washing off with water.

Add 1-2 tsp of honey to 1 tablespoon of yogurt. Apply this to your skin. Leave it for 10-15 minutes. Wash off with water. Repeat daily.

3. Lemon Juice for Skin Lightening

Lemon juice is a natural astringent and has natural bleaching properties. Thus, if you have an oily skin and if you want to lighten your skin color, lemon juice is just right for you. Its astringent property will tighten your pores reducing the sebum secretion and its natural acidic composition will bleach your skin to whiten it. As lemon juice is also rich in vitamin C, it leads to production of new skin cells so that you get rid of all dullness and have bright skin.

Ways to use lemon juice for skin lightening

Take a lemon and squeeze out its juice. Dip a cotton ball in this lemon juice and apply it on your face or dark skin anywhere else. Leave it for 20-30 minutes and then wash off with water. Repeat daily.

If you want to save yourself from the hassle of squeezing out the lemon juice, just cut a lemon in two halves and rub one of the lemon half gently on your face for 10-15 minutes. Then leave the juice on your face for another 10-15 minutes before washing it off.

For oily skin, make this face mask which will also lighten your skin. Mix 1 tsp of lemon juice with 2 tsp of rosewater and 1 tsp of Fuller’s earth. Make a paste by mixing them and apply to your face. Leave for 15-20 minutes and then wash off.

If your skin is dry, mix a tsp each of lemon juice, honey and olive oil. Now apply this to your skin. Massage gently for a couple of minutes. Now leave this on your skin for 10-15 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water.

Precaution: Never go out in sun after applying lemon juice to your skin. Lemon juice makes your skin ultra sensitive to sunrays that can, I n fact, lead to more discoloration of skin. Also do not use lemon juice if you have open wounds on your skin.

4. Rice Powder for Skin Lightening

Women from Asian countries have long used rice water and rice powder to tone and whiten their skin. Modern science too agrees upon the positive effects of rice extract on mature skin as well as its capacity to lighten skin. Rice is a rich source of para aminobenzoic acid (PABA) which acts as a natural sunscreen. When you consume PABA, it raises the level of Vitamin C in your body. Rice also has ferulic acid, an antioxidant, which when added to Vitamin C and E, provides you excellent protection against sun. A study conducted with rice bran extracts has proven its hydrating, skin lightening and anti aging effects on skin.

How to make skin lightening rice powder mask?

Get this:

Uncooked rice- ½ – 1 cup

Milk- enough to make paste

Warm water

Do this:

Grind the rice to get its fine powder.

Add enough milk to the fine rice powder to make a paste. If you are allergic to milk, you can even use water to make this paste.

Apply this rice powder paste to your face and neck.

Leave for 20-30 minutes.

Wash off with warm water.

Repeat 2-3 times a week.

5. Licorice Root Extract for Skin Lightening

Licorice has long been used by Ayurveda and other Asian Medicine systems to treat many medical conditions including skin diseases like eczema and psoriases. Of late, the excellent properties of licorice as a skin lightening agent has been put to use by many cosmetic companies to make herbal skin lightening creams. These products use licorice root extract as an alternative to the harmful chemical hydroquinone. Licorice contains the active compound ‘glabridin’ which acts to inhibit the enzyme which causes skin to darken due to sun exposure. Glabridin also help decrease the production of melanin as well as in balancing the skin cells. Not only is the licorice extract an excellent natural skin lightening agent but it also helps diminish dark circles and other darkened skin due to scars etc. Because licorice also contains ‘licochalcone,’ an oil controlling agent, it is also good for those people who have oily or acne-prone skin and who want their skin to become white.

How to use licorice extract for skin lightening?

You can find licorice extract in health stores. Although you can also make licorice extract at home by steeping or boiling the licorice root, it is too mild a preparation. The commercially available licorice root extract have huge concentration of useful agents of licorice extract.

Take a few drops of licorice extract and with the help of a cotton ball or a swab, apply a thin layer of this extract all over your face and neck.

Leave this overnight and wash off in the morning.

You may also make a face mask with the licorice extract.

How to make licorice extract face mask for skin lightening?

Get this:

Licorice extract- few drops

Cucumber- 1 small or a half of it

Fresh lemon juice- 1 tbsp

Sandalwood paste- 1 tbsp

Tomato juice- 1 tbsp

Do this:

Grind the cucumber in blender.

Add few drops of licorice root extract to this cucumber paste.

Now add all the other ingredients to this- lemon juice, sandalwood paste and tomato juice.

Mix well and apply this to your face and neck.

Leave it for 20-30 minutes or till it dries out completely.

Wash off.

Repeat 2 times a week.

Care for Normal Facial Skin (Face Masks for Cleansing and Fairness):

• The skin type is considered normal, when there is a right oil and moisture balance

• In normal skin, 

   o Skin tone is even 

   o There are usually no spots or blemishes

• Use natural face masks to get a glowing and a healthy skin

Natural face mask using banana, yogurt and honey: 

1. Mash half a banana

2. Add 2 tbsp of yogurt

3. Add 1 tbsp of honey

4. Mix well

5. Apply on the face taking care to avoid the eyes

6. Leave for 15 min

7. Wash off with cold water

Natural face mask using yogurt and orange:

1. Take 1 tbsp of yogurt

2. Add juice of ¼ of an orange

3. Mix well

4. Apply on the face taking care to avoid the eyes

5. Leave for 5 min and then wash it off

These remedies are based on the principles of Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science of healing, and are completely natural, non-invasive, and can be prepared at home. Consult your doctor if the symptoms persist.  Refer to the terms of use.

Removing Skin Tan:

• Tan refers to the skin darkening due to exposure to the UV radiation of the sun

• In many regions, tanning is often done intentionally by sun bathing or other artificial methods

Symptoms to look for:

• Darkening of the affected skin

• Presence of blisters in severe cases

Causes:

• Sun exposure facilitates production of vitamin D

• Excessive sun exposure can cause:

   o Sunburn

   o Skin cancer

   o Weak immune system

• Exposure to the sun damages melanin leading to brief skin darkening

Natural home remedy using tomatoes and lemon juice: 

1. Crush 2 washed tomatoes into a puree

2. Add 4 tbsp lemon juice

3. Mix well

4. Apply on the tanned skin

5. Leave it for 20 min

6. Wash off with cold water

7. Do this for 15 days

Natural home remedy using lemon juice and turmeric powder:

1. Take 6 tbsp lemon juice

2. Add 2 tsp turmeric powder

3. Mix well to make paste

4. Apply on the tanned skin

5. Leave it for 30 min

6. Wash off with water

Tips:

• Rub potato slice on tanned skin for 5-10 min

These remedies are based on the principles of Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science of healing, and are completely natural, non-invasive, and can be prepared at home. Consult your doctor if the symptoms persist.  Refer to the terms of use.

Nothing dark is good, everything should be bright including your underarms. I know how embarassing it is to have dark underarms. You cannot raise your hands even if you dare to wear a sleeveless top! Being cautious everytime means so much sacrifice of freedom. Let’s not do this. Your underarms may have gone dark due to some of your mistakes including shaving or using chemical laden hair removing creams and deodorants, let’s not leave them dark. After all, there are so many home remedies for whitening dark underarms. They may need your efforts and time as well as patience but you can sure get whitened underarms.

Home Remedies for Dark Underarms

1. Naturally Bleach Underarms with Lemon

Lemon is the first thing that comes to mind whevever you want to remove anything dark from your skin! Nothing is as good a bleach as lemon is. Lemon is not only a natural cleanser (why else would restaurants use washing bowls with warm water having lemon wedges in them!) but also has anti-bacterial and anti-septic properties. Its acidic properties help extensively in lightening your skin along with exfoliating dead skin cells. So, why not use lemon for lightening your dark underarms?

Take a thick slice of lemon and rub your underarms daily before you go to have bath. Apply some moisturizer after bath as lemon also tends to make skin dry. You may also use lemon in different way, as told in the next point, to ensure it doesn’t dries up your skin.

Add a pinch or two of tumeric, honey or yogurt to lemon juice. This will give you something like a paste. Apply this to your dark underarms and leave for about 10 minutes. Now wash off with water.

2. Why Leave Potatoes Behind!

True. When you can use lemon for its bleaching properties, why leave potatoes behind. They too are good natural bleaching agents. More so for those who have sensitive skin because lemon’s acidic nature can irritate their skin a lot. Potatoes, due to their mild acids do not irritate the skin. And how to use potatoes for whitening your dark underarms? You know that well, you have read it hundreds of times. Still I’ll write them down.

Take a thin slice of potato and rub your underarms with it for about 5-10 minutes and then wash off with lukewarm water.

Alternatively, grate a potato and squeeze out the juice from the grated things. Apply this juice to your underarms with the help of your fingers or a cotton ball. Leave it for about 10 minutes and then wash off.

Use potatoes at least twice a day to see faster results which you can expect to see in seven days time with lightened skin under your arms.

3. Use those Cucumbers too!

If it’s a competition among veggies, you’ll have to use those cucumbers lying in your refrigerator too because they too have skin lightening properties. What’s even better is that if you want to get the benefits of bleaching properties of lemon, you can do so by combining lemon juice with cucumber. While lemon works to bleach your skin, cucumber soothes the skin avoiding any itching or irritation.

Mix lime juice with cucumber juice and add a pinch of turmeric to it. Lemon bleaches and removes dead cells, cucumber provides cooling effect and turmeric prevents discoloration. It is actually an ayurvedic remedy- so easy that you can do it everyday without any hassle!

You can also simply cut roundels of cucumber and rub your underarms with it.

Or apply the pure juice of ccumber to your dark underarm. This can also lighten your skin there in few days.

Remedies for Whitening Dark Underarms

Image: Flickr By Breville USA

4. Exfoiate Underarms with Natural Scrubs

Sometimes it’s nothing more than the accumulation of dead skin cells that causes your underarms look dark. In such case you have to gently exfoliate your skin under your arms. A soft loofah is also sufficient but scrubs can give you really white underarms. I am talking about natural scrubs and not the harsh chemical laden commercial ones. Before telling you about some natural scrubs, I like to emphasize on the need of exfoliation for those who sweat excessively. They should more often exfoliate their underarms because it’s where most of the body sweat accumulates and sometimes doesn’t find way to escape. However, excessive exfoliation too can cause harm and scarring which can lead to infection in hair follicles, pores, and sweat glands in your armpits. So exfoliate but gently and with care. Avoid using harsh scrubs and even things like pumice stones or brushes. Now have some recipes for natural homemade scrubs for your underarms.

Take some lemon juice and add brown sugar or granulated sugar. Appy on underarms and leave for 5-10 minutes. Then with little wet fingers, rub your underarms gently feeling the granules of the sugar. This will excellently exfoliate your skin along with lightening it. Wash off after few minutes. This scrub is particularly useful for you if you got your dark underarms as a result of shaving.

Take some walnuts or peanuts and grind them to make powder. Now take 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1 teaspoon each of honey and powdered walnut or peanuts. Mix them to make a paste. Apply this to your underarms. Leave for 10 minutes. Wash off.

5.Take Help from White Baking Soda!

White baking soda can also make your underarms white. Baking soda can be used to make an excellent scrub for your underams. In fact, if you use baking soda for underarms, you can avoid your chemically made deodorants and antiperspirants, another cause for dark underarms. Baking arms can prevent body odour too. Not only this, a scrub made with baking soda can also get you rid of damaged and dead cellleading to unclogging pores. It also kills the germs to give you a clean odor-free and lightened underarm.

Take some baking soda and water. Mix them to make a thick paste. Apply them to your underarms and gently scrub the area. Wash off and pat dry the skin.

If you don’t want such an elaborate exercise, mix the baking soda with a little water and just wipe your underarms with this solution.

6. Orange Peels for Fruity Treatment of Dark Underarms

Yet another natural scrub for your underarms, and this time its fruity and fragarant because it is made with orange peels. Orange, belonging to the family of lemon, has bleaching properties that can be used for lightening your dark underarms. Here are the steps to make this scrub.

Dry the orange peel in shade.

Grind the peel to get its powder.

Take some rose water and milk.

Add the powdered orange peel to this rose water and milk and mix well to get a thick paste.

Apply this paste to your underarms and gently scrub the area for about 10 minutes.

Wash off with cold water.

This scrub removes your dead cells, bleaches the skin and leaves you fragarant with the effects of rose water and orange itself.

7. Saffron’s Fragarant Remedy for Dark Underarms

Saffron is a bit expensive thing to use for underarms but it can give you priceless white underarms. You can even save money by not buying any deodorant because saffron can kill germs and bacteria that cause underarm odour.

Take a little milk.

Take a few strands of saffron and mix them with milk.

Apply to your underarms.

If you leave it overnight and wash off in the morning, it’s the best way to get the benefits of milk and sffron.

If not, you can let the mixture sit there for 15-20 minutes and then wash off with water.

8. Milk for Milky White Underarms

Vitamins and fatty acids in milk are very effective in lightening the dark skin under arms. When mixed with curd, the lactic acid too do wonders for whitening your dark underarm.

You will need:

Milk- 2 tablespoons

Curd- 1 tablespoon

Flour- 1 tablespoon

Directions:

Mix milk, curd and flour to get a paste.

Apply to your underarms

Leave for 15 minutes.

Wash off with water